The trips by Democratic staffers were unusual because the IRI rarely pays for travel by Democratic offices. According to congressional travel records, only seven of the 48 trips IRI has sponsored for lawmakers or their staff members since 2000 were for Democrats. More than half of those trips were to Colombia.
But those who went said they had few reservations about working with the Republican group.
“At the end of the day, I didn’t care if green Martians are working on it. People are working on something that needs to be done. The issue is what matters to me,” said Ian Campbell, Clarke’s chief of staff, who took an IRI-sponsored trip to train staff on the new caucus.
Sutton said the objective was to help Afro-Colombian legislators from different parties realize they could work together for the benefit of their constituents.
Instead of focusing on grassroots efforts with local Afro-Colombian bodies, the IRI worked to help black Colombians develop a stronger voice at the national level. The best example for developing that voice, Sutton said, was in the U.S., where the CBC is a power base in the U.S. House.
Getting black lawmakers in Colombia to rally around causes was more difficult, however, since unlike the CBC, which is completely Democratic, Afro-Colombian legislators hold political views running all along the spectrum from left to right. For example, four of the caucus members are allies of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and support the trade deal with the U.S., while four are opposed. Another prominent Afro-Colombian senator who opposes the trade deal has yet to join the caucus.
Sutton said the IRI helped the diverse group rally around common issues, such as dedicating a large portion of the Colombian budget to Afro-Colombians.
Groups opposed to the trade deal suggest the formation of the caucus was meant to strengthen the idea that Afro-Colombian legislators were divided on it. This could have made it easier for some U.S. lawmakers to support the deal.
A letter opposing the FTA that was signed by 168 groups, many representing local Colombian groups, was circulated to House members in May.
Marino Cordoba, a black Colombian political leader who fled his country after an assassination attempt, faults some U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), for pushing the Colombian government’s position on black Colombian issues instead of representing grassroots groups.
In an interview, Meeks, one of only 15 Democrats to vote for the Central American Free Trade Agreement in 2005, said the IRI’s effort could build support for the trade agreement by illustrating the Colombian government’s assistance to black Colombians.
“Helping with the Afro-Colombians could help them win votes for the FTA,” said Meeks, who has spoken out in favor of the trade deal, saying it could help black Colombians.
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